Context: Recently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has introduced new Cinematograph (Certification) Rules for 2024. These rules will replace the old rules from 1983.

• These rules are based on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which modified the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

About Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024

• Aim: These rules aim to address film certification concerns. They have been updated to fit online certification processes, improving transparency and efficiency.

Key aspects of the new rules

• 1. Age-based certification

• a. The UA category now offers sub-categories like UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+ to aid parents in determining a film’s suitability for their children.

• b. The older certification categories—U (Universal), A (Adult Only), and S (for specific groups)—will remain unchanged.

• c. These updates align with the recommendations of the Shyam Benegal committee from 2017.

• 2. Reduced certification time: The new rules streamline film certification by going fully digital, with a provision for “priority screening” for urgent cases. This would enhance transparency and impartiality.

• 3. Increased representation for Women: The new rules mandate increased representation of women in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and Advisory Panels. It is specified that one-third of the Board members must be women.

• 4. Accessibility for disabled: Movies/feature films must incorporate accessibility features for certification to ensure inclusivity for disabled individuals.

• 5. Perpetual validity of CBFC certificates: CBFC certificates will have Perpetual validity, removing the previous 10-year limit. Recertification will only be needed for edited films aired on television.

• 6. Compliance Timeline: Films in more than one language must adhere to the rules within six months, while others have two years. From January 1, 2025, films submitted to events like the National Film Awards and International Film Festival must also follow the guidelines.

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

• The CBFC is a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, entrusted with regulating the public exhibition of films as per the Cinematograph Act 1952.

• Films can only be publicly exhibited in India once they have obtained certification from the CBFC, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and standards.

• The CBFC comprises non-official members and a Chairman, all appointed by the Central Government, with its headquarters located in Mumbai.

• Additionally, it operates nine Regional offices across India, each equipped with Advisory Panels to assist in the examination of films.

• The Advisory Panels consist of members nominated by the Central Government from diverse backgrounds, serving for a term of 2 years.

Film Industry in India

• The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of the number of films produced and the most globalised industry in the world producing more than 3,000 films annually in more than 40 languages.

• The three largest film industries in India are Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.

• The Indian film industry, known for its vibrant and diverse cinema, had a market size of over 172 billion Indian rupees in the year 2022. This figure indicates a recovery trajectory, although the industry is still navigating the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid growth of video over-the-top (OTT) culture.

• Video streaming services, including OTT platforms, became very popular in India during the pandemic and lockdowns when people were confined to their homes.

• The online video market in India has a mix of global and local players competing for over 400 million users.

• The jobs created by the television and film industry across the country were estimated to be 4.12 million in the financial year 2022, up from about 2.36 million jobs in the financial year 2017.